Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Jan. 31, 2012
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. (Prospectus Summary) | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc.
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Provident Trust Strategy Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective:
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Provident Trust Strategy Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses of the Fund:
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	28.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of these periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests mainly in a limited number of multi- capitalization growth stocks. The Fund is a non-diversified core growth equity fund seeking to exceed domestic stock market index returns (the S&P 500) over investment cycles (in the portfolio managers' view, an investment cycle lasts for 5-7 years and includes both a 30% advance and a 20% decline in the stock market). The Fund can flexibly allocate assets to moderate volatility, and selects common stocks of all market capitalizations based on their potential to appreciate in value relative to other stocks. Stock selection criteria include improving revenue and earnings growth, increasing margins, significant stock ownership by management and improving price-to-earnings ratios. The Fund's portfolio managers generally prefer to invest in large capitalization and medium capitalization stocks (namely, companies  with at least $2 billion in market capitalization) but may also invest a portion of the portfolio in small capitalization stocks. When selecting individual stock investments, the Fund's portfolio managers take a "bottom-up" investment approach, meaning that they select investments based on their assessment of whether an individual company has the potential for above average growth.    The portfolio managers employ a sell discipline pursuant to which they will: ·  Reduce or sell an entire position when it reaches the portfolio managers'         target price,           ·  Sell or reduce a position as part of their asset allocation process, or ·  Sell an entire position when fundamentals are deteriorating.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks:
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is a risk that you could lose all or a portion of your money on your investment in the Fund. This risk may increase during times of significant market volatility. The risks below could affect the value of your investment, and because of these risks, the Fund is a suitable investment only for those investors who have long-term investment goals: ·  Stock Market Risk: The prices of the securities in which the Fund invests    may decline for a number of reasons. The price declines of common stocks, in          particular, may be steep, sudden and/or prolonged. Price changes may occur in    the market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular company,            industry, or sector of the market.                                                ·  Asset Allocation Risk: The Fund may allocate its investments among various        asset classes. The Fund's performance will be affected by its portfolio           managers' ability to anticipate correctly the relative potential returns and      risks of the asset classes in which the Fund invests.    ·  Non-Diversification Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified (meaning that      compared to diversified mutual funds, the Fund may invest a greater percentage    of its assets in a particular issuer), the Fund's shares may be more susceptible    to adverse changes in the value of a particular security than would be the shares    of a diversified mutual fund. Thus, the Fund is more sensitive to economic,    business and political changes which may result in greater price fluctuations of    the Fund's shares.   ·  Medium Capitalization Companies Risk: Medium capitalization companies tend    to be more susceptible to adverse business or economic events than large             capitalization companies, and there is a risk that the securities of medium       capitalization companies may have limited liquidity and greater price             volatility than securities of large capitalization companies.   ·  Small Capitalization Companies Risk: Small capitalization companies typically    have relatively lower revenues, limited product lines and lack of management      depth, and may have a smaller share of the market for their products or services,    than large and medium capitalization companies. There is a risk that the securities    of small capitalization companies may have limited liquidity and greater price      volatility than securities of large and medium capitalization companies, which    can negatively affect the Fund's ability to sell these securities at quoted market    prices. Finally, there are periods when investing in small capitalization company    stocks falls out of favor with investors and these may underperform.                                               ·  Credit Risk: The issuers of bonds and other debt securities may not be able    to make interest or principal payments. Issuers may suffer adverse changes in        financial condition that would lower the credit quality of the security           leading to greater volatility in the price of the security.       ·  Interest Rate Risk: Debt securities typically experience appreciation when        interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. So, when        interest rates rise, the prices of bonds and other debt securities generally      fall. Longer-term obligations are usually more sensitive to interest rate         changes than shorter-term obligations. While bonds and other debt securities      normally fluctuate less in price than common stocks, there have been extended    periods of interest rate increases that have caused significant declines in       bond prices.                     ·  Prepayment Risk: The issuers of bonds or other debt securities may prepay         principal due on securities, particularly during periods of declining interest    rates. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential       for gain when interest rates decline and may offer a greater potential for        loss when interest rates rise. Rising interest rates may cause prepayments to    occur at a slower than expected rate thereby increasing the average life of       the security and making a security more sensitive to interest rate changes. ·  Market Timing Risk: Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by a        shareholder may harm other Fund shareholders by interfering with the efficient    management of the Fund's portfolio, increasing brokerage and administrative       costs, and potentially diluting the value of their shares. However, the Fund's    Board of Directors has determined not to adopt policies and procedures that       discourage frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares because the    Fund has not experienced frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares    that have been disruptive to the Fund. The Fund's Board of Directors may    reconsider its decision not to adopt policies and procedures if it determines    there is unusual trading in Fund shares.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	There is a risk that you could lose all or a portion of your money on your investment in the Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	Because the Fund is non-diversified (meaning that compared to diversified mutual funds, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer), the Fund's shares may be more susceptible to adverse changes in the value of a particular security than would be the shares of a diversified mutual fund. Thus, the Fund is more sensitive to economic, business and political changes which may result in greater price fluctuations of the Fund's shares.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance:
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and how the Fund's average annual returns over time compare to the performance of the Standard & Poor's Composite Index of 500 Stocks ("S&P 500"). For additional information on this index, please see "Index Description" in the Prospectus. Prior to August 31, 2012, Provident Trust Company (the "Adviser"), the Fund's investment adviser, served as sub-adviser to the Fund and another investment adviser served as the adviser to the Fund. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund's website at http://www.provtrust.com or by calling 1-855-739-9950.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and how the Fund's average annual returns over time compare to the performance of the Standard & Poor's Composite Index of 500 Stocks ("S&P 500"). For additional information on this index, please see "Index Description" in the Prospectus.
Performance Availability Phone [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	1-855-739-9950
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	http://www.provtrust.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Provident Trust Strategy Fund (Annual total return as of 12/31)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Note: During the ten year period shown on the bar chart, the Fund's highest total return for a quarter was 13.41% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest total return for a quarter was -14.74% (quarter ended December 31, 2008).
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]	rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes	reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher	rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher	In certain cases, the figure representing "Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares" may be higher than the other return figures for the same period, since a higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and provides an assumed tax deduction that benefits the investor.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In certain cases, the figure representing "Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares" may be higher than the other return figures for the same period, since a higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and provides an assumed tax deduction that benefits the investor. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2011)
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. (Prospectus Summary) | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. | S&P 500 Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.11%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	(0.25%)
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.92%
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. (Prospectus Summary) | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. | Provident Trust Strategy Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption Fee (transfer agent charge of $15 for each wire redemption)	rr_RedemptionFee	none
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.66%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.98%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	100
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	312
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	542
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,201
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	(18.13%)
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	32.29%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	12.85%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	15.47%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	9.43%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.77%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(21.00%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.78%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	12.89%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(3.65%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	highest total return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	13.41%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	lowest total return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(14.74%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Return before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.65%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.35%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.66%
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. (Prospectus Summary) | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. | Provident Trust Strategy Fund | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Return after taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(3.66%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.03%
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. (Prospectus Summary) | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. | Provident Trust Strategy Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.35%)
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.00%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.70%